PITTSBURGH - David Corbett, a national consultant for religious programming hired by the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s Office For Electronic Media, is recommending substantial changes for Bishop Donald Wuerl’s long-running television show The Teaching of Christ. At one time, Bishop Wuerl was known as “The King of Sunday Morning,” because no local cleric would dare broadcast opposite his program. However, times have changed. “The show just isn’t bringing in the numbers it once did,” says Corbett. “And that’s because the format has become stale. I just don‘t know how much longer the audience is going to stick with his message of peace, love, and redemption. Yeah, I know it’s the ‘timeless message of salvation’ and all that, but week in, week out, it’s the same old thing.”
One of the first things that needs to be changed, according to Corbett, is the house band. “We all love Father Leo,” he said, referring to the pianist leader of The Beatified Trio. “But that kind of music just doesn’t speak to the market we’re trying to reach -- males between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five.”
To that end, Corbett is attempting to convince people close to Bishop Wuerl to get him to “loosen up” a bit. “Book the occasional animal act. Make the monologue more topical. Get back to doing the sketches that made The Teachings of Christ the topic of water-cooler conversation on Monday morning.” Corbett also thinks that the Bishop should provide more exposure to young priests breaking into religious life. “There is nothing the audience loves more than when a young homilist comes out and kills, and then the Bishop invites him over to the couch. That’s great television.”
Hugh Downs, who is co-host of the show, said the Bishop is reflecting upon Mr. Corbett’s suggestions. Downs said the Bishop is willing to implement all of the changes recommended save one: The Bishop will not allow comedian Jackie Mason to return to the show. Many viewers will recall the morning when Mason’s act ran long, and as he was ushered off the set cameras caught Mason making an obscene gesture in the direction of the Bishop. “He knows about the need to forgive and all that,” said Downs, “but there’s a limit to everything.”
